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The Postman Always Rings Twice
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The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   5,232 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 5% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Tay Garnett
Writers:
Harry Ruskin (screenplay) and
Niven Busch (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Postman Always Rings Twice on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2 May 1946 (USA) more
Tagline:
Their Love was a Flame that Destroyed! more
Plot:
A married woman and a drifter fall in love, then plot to murder her husband... but even once the deed is done, they must live with the consequences of their actions. full summary | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
10 Sexiest Non-Sex Scenes
 (From Spout. 19 February 2009, 2:00 PM, PST)

Stone Hits Out at Zeta-Jones Casting
 (From WENN. 31 August 2005)

User Comments:
Superior film noir more

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Lana Turner ... Cora Smith
John Garfield ... Frank Chambers
Cecil Kellaway ... Nick Smith

Hume Cronyn ... Arthur Keats
Leon Ames ... Kyle Sackett
Audrey Totter ... Madge Gorland
Alan Reed ... Ezra Liam Kennedy
Jeff York ... Blair
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Philip Ahlm ... Photographer (uncredited)
John Alban ... Photographer (uncredited)
Morris Ankrum ... Judge (uncredited)
King Baggot ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Betty Blythe ... Customer (uncredited)
Paul Bradley ... Man (uncredited)
Wally Cassell ... Ben (uncredited)
Jack Chefe ... Headwaiter (uncredited)
Dick Crockett ... Reporter (uncredited)
Oliver Cross ... Man (uncredited)
James Darrell ... Reporter (uncredited)
Tom Dillon ... Father McConnell (uncredited)
Edward Earle ... Doctor (uncredited)
Jim Farley ... Warden (uncredited)
Byron Foulger ... Picnic Manager (uncredited)
Joel Friedkin ... John X. McHugh (uncredited)
A. Cameron Grant ... Willie (uncredited)
William Halligan ... Judge (uncredited)
Bud Harrison ... Bailiff (uncredited)
Paul Kruger ... Officer (uncredited)
Frank Mayo ... Bailiff (uncredited)
Helen McLeod ... Customer (uncredited)
Harold Miller ... Photographer (uncredited)
Howard M. Mitchell ... Doctor (uncredited)
Sandra Morgan ... Matron (uncredited)
George Noisom ... Telegraph messenger (uncredited)
Garry Owen ... Truck Driver (uncredited)
Dorothy Phillips ... Nurse (uncredited)
Dan Quigg ... Man (uncredited)
Virginia L. Randolph ... Snooty Woman (uncredited)
Paula Ray ... Woman (uncredited)
Hilda Rhodes ... Customer (uncredited)
Walter Ridge ... Reporter (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre ... Reporter (uncredited)
Edward Sherrod ... Man (uncredited)
Reginald Simpson ... Photographer (uncredited)
Brick Sullivan ... Officer (uncredited)
John M. Sullivan ... Doctor (uncredited)
Charles Williams ... Doctor (uncredited)
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Directed by
Tay Garnett 
 
Writing credits
Harry Ruskin (screenplay) and
Niven Busch (screenplay)

James M. Cain (novel)

Produced by
Carey Wilson .... producer
 
Original Music by
George Bassman 
Eric Zeisl (uncredited)
 
Cinematography by
Sidney Wagner (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
George White 
 
Art Direction by
Randall Duell 
Cedric Gibbons 
 
Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis 
 
Makeup Department
Jack Dawn .... makeup designer
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bill Lewis .... assistant director (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Douglas Shearer .... recording director
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Irene .... costume supervisor
Marion Herwood Keyes .... associate costume supervisor
Helen Scovil Roup .... wardrobe (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Ted Duncan .... orchestrator
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Runtime:
113 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
Australia:PG | Canada:18A (video rating) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | USA:Approved (PCA #11240) | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1996)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
It took 12 years to adapt the explicit material (by 1940 standards) of the novel into a screenplay tame enough to comply with the Production Code prevalent at the time. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Frank and Cora are further apart, then closer together, when they get home from the late night swim. more
Quotes:
Cora Smith: I want to make something of this place, I want to make it into an honest-to-goodness...
Frank Chambers: Well, aren't we ambitious.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Careful What You Wish For (2004) more
Soundtrack:
There is a Tavern in the Town more

FAQ

What does the title mean?
How was James M. Cain's book received?
What did Fred Allen write after he received a copy of the book?
more
24 out of 32 people found the following comment useful:-
Superior film noir, 29 July 2004
10/10
Author: LDRose from United Kingdom

Lana Turner and John Garfield generate sparks in this excellent crime thriller. Turner plays Cora Smith, a restless young waitress married to a much-older man who runs the roadside diner. Garfield plays Frank Chambers, a drifter who turns up at the diner and is captivated by Cora. Cecil Kellaway is great as Cora's naive husband Nick, whose main concern is the diner. The fact that it is filmed in black and white helps create the suspenseful atmosphere and highlight Cora's striking cream outfits. This is far superior to the 1981 remake, for although it was made under a strict production code, it smolders with desire and tension and is an unforgettable classic.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Film noir recommendations LDRose
the postman always rings twice crathie29
Postman may have rung 3X efffee
Representation of women natalka-groves
Ripoff? mcphil2
better as a comedy? eddielandsberg
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Recommendations

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